Jason Kelce shares his favorite restaurants, what he’d title his memoir, what he’ll be doing at 62, and more

The recently retired Eagles center spoke to employees and fans at Campbell’s HQ, where he was presented with his custom can and a big donation.

Jason Kelce at Campbell's headquarters in Camden for the launch of the Legend Edition Campbell's Chunky can.Read moreCourtesy of Campbell's Chunky

by Gabriela Carroll

Published March 20, 2024, 3:24 p.m. ET

On Wednesday, Campbell’s packed a conference room to the brim with Eagles fans and the soup company’s employees — all there to see Jason Kelce.

During Kelce’s fireside chat at Campbell’s headquarters in Camden, employees clad in Kelce jerseys got to ask him questions. Kelce shared that if he wrote a memoir, he’d title it Hungry Dogs Run Faster, in honor of offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland (since “Nick Foles took Believe”). His jersey number was 62, and so Kelce was asked what he hoped he’d be up to at 62. He didn’t “want to put pressure on [his daughters],” but he said he hoped he’d be in “granddad mode” — and that his knees would still work.

One employee mentioned she’d recently moved to Philadelphia, and that Kelce had helped make her a Philly sports fan, and asked for local restaurant recommendations. Kelce said he loved local favorite Zahav, but also shouted out Havertown Grill in Delaware County, near where he lives.

“It might not be a big-name restaurant, but it’s about the people,” Kelce said. “I like to sit next to Mike at the counter and talk to him.”

Kelce’s not originally from Philadelphia — he grew up in Cleveland Heights, Ohio — but he embodies the city’s spirit, which is a big reason why Campbell’s chose to partner with him for its first Legend Edition soup can, designed in honor of his retirement following the 2023 season. Campbell’s presented Kelce with the can on Wednesday, in addition to a $62,000 check for his organization, (Be)Philly.

“Jason, his career has been unbelievable, and he’s done a phenomenal job also for the overall region,” said Mick Beekhuizen, Campbell’s president of meals and beverages. “... We’re very big believers in continuing to support the community, and with Jason’s (Be)Philly Foundation, he’s very focused on the local community and continuing to make sure that he supports the local community. So what better way than donating $62,000 to his foundation?”

Kelce started (Be)Philly in 2022 to support youths in Philadelphia public schools, specifically in underserved communities. The foundation raises funds for local initiatives to provide enriching programming to help students achieve more academically and economically, through the Eagles-inspired Underdog Apparel merchandise line and through independent donations like the one made by Campbell’s.

In the wake of Kelce’s retirement, fans donated over $36,000 to the foundation, bringing the total for the organization to nearly $100,000 including the Campbell’s donation, which (Be)Philly’s website said can fund a full year of programming for a school cohort. In addition, a specialty T-shirt released by Homage raised over $120,000, and NFL great Drew Brees donated 13 scholarships for college walk-ons in Kelce’s honor.

“We aren’t trying to change Philadelphia,” Kelce said. “We really want to try and embrace that Philadelphia spirit and drive and passion that we all have here being Philadelphians, and to give that support to kids that might not have the resources or infrastructure necessary to be the underdogs or achieve their dream.”